Television offerings for 2009-2010

Here are synopses, time slots and premiere dates, where available, for new series, movies and specials from the broadcast networks, cable channels and PBS. Schedules are bound to change. TV critic Hal Boedeker assesses the programs.

Eastwick, 10 p.m. Wednesday: Or "Desperate Witches." John Updike's The Witches of Eastwick, which became a Jack Nicholson movie, gets the ABC treatment. Rebecca Romijn and Paul Gross have the showiest roles. Sept. 23.

The Good Wife, 10 p.m. Tuesday: Promising drama about a political wife ( Julianna Margulies) who must re-enter the work force after her husband (Chris Noth) is jailed in a scandal. Josh Charles and Christine Baranski co-star. A likely hit, and deserving of it, too. Sept. 22.

The Botany of Desire: A two-hour look at the plant world, based on Michael Pollan's book, debuts Oct. 28.

Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times: A sweeping look at the family and the Los Angeles Times. Oct. 5.

Latin Music USA: Jimmy Smits narrates the four-part history. Oct 12 and 19.

Masterpiece: The Mystery! portion continues with Inspector Lewis stories on Sundays, Sept. 6-Oct. 18. The Contemporary portion starts Oct. 25 with Endgame, a South African political thriller starring Jonny Lee Miller. Place of Execution tells of a girl's disappearance in 1963, stars Juliet Stevenson and airs Nov. 1 and 8. Collision examines the connections among 10 people involved in a major accident; it airs Nov. 15 and 22.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea: Civil War documentarian Ken Burns rolls out his latest epic. Sept. 27-Oct. 2.

Nature: F. Murray Abraham is series narrator. Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions on Oct. 25. Born Wild: The First Day of Life on Nov. 1. Black Mamba on Nov. 8. Fellowship of the Whales on Nov. 15.